Combined tie-rod and drag link



Sept. 1, 1925. 1,551,711

G. A. TOAZ COMBINED TIE ROD AND DRAG-LINK Filed Jan. 11, 1923 2 Shuts-Shoot 1 mnmw V 4,

ATTM/Ytf Sept. 1, 1925'.

G. A. TOAZ COMBINED TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK Filed Jan. 11 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' n 1 RA T Em M r(\ W m h (M 4 6 w. H a 1 7 1 m 2 w, J w. 1

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GLENN A. TOAZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOE. TO THE STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION O'I OHIO.

COMBINED TIE-ROD AND DRAG LINK.

Application filed January 11, 1928. Serial 110. 612,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLENN A. TOAZ, a

6 of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Tie-Rods and Drag Links, of which the following is a specifica' tion, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which 10 I have contemplated applying that principle,

so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to combined tie-rods and drag-links which form part of the steering mechanism of automotive vehicles such as automobiles and auto-trucks.

My said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The object ofsaid invention is to produce a combined tie-rod and drag-link WhlCh will be simple and economical in construction and efficient in the performance of its function.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide the drag-link with two end sockets, one of which was caused to engage a ball-bearing on the steering arm which is actuated by the steering post, and the other of which was caused to engage a ball-bearing mounted upon the tie-rod intermediately of its ends.

This construction involved the necessity of using four sockets and their connected parts,

two 1n the drag-link and two on the tie-rod, as is well known to those skilled in the art,

and also including aeball joint offset from the longitudinal axis of the tie-rod whereby the undesirable eflect of causing a bending of said tie-rod, or a tendency to bend same,

was produced.

More specifically the object of the invention is to eliminate as far as possible the number and variety of parts, reduce the weight, simplify the manufacturing process, eliminate as far as possible improper a sem- 4 bly, prevent rattling, and apply the force transmitted from the drag-link to the tie-rod in a theoreticall correct manner, whereby the undesirable ending of, or tendency to bend, the tie-rod is also eliminated.

These objects are accom lished by eliminatin the socket at one en of the drag-link provic ling such end with a ball-bearing and associating said bearing with one of the tierod sockets, the latter being arranged to accommodate and receive such bearin The annexed drawings and the ollowing descri tion set forth in detail certain means embo ying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a plan of the front portion of an automobile chassis, embodying my said invention.

Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the tie-rod, drag-link and connected parts, as

viewed from the plane indicated by line 'IIII in Fig. 1.

. indicated by line V--V in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmenta section taken upon the plane indicate by line VIVI in Fig. 4.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the tie-rod 1, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided as is usual with two endsockets, 2 and 3 respectively, the one end socket 3, being however somewhat longer than the socket 2, as shown. Socket 2 is rovided with an elongated slot 4 formed wit an enlargement 5, through which the ball-bearing 6 which is formed on the end of the steering knuckle-arm 7 may be inserted, as is common practice and will be readily understood. An end plug 8 closes the end of the socket and on each side of the bearing 6 are bearing blocks'9 and 10. A suitable helical s ring 11 ing knuckle-arm 7' may be inserted. The outer end of the socket is closed by a plug and upon opposite'sides of the bearing 14 are the two bearing blocks 16 and 17 respectively.

Seated against the block 17 is a ball-bearing 18 formed upon a right-angular offset 19 formed upon the one end ofthe draglink 20. Against the other side of said bearing 18 is a bearing block 21, between which and the inner end of the socket is placed a helical spring 22.

The other end of the drag-link is formed with a socket 23 provided with the bearing blocks 24 and 25, spring 26, plug 27 and slot 28, a ball-bearing 29 being interposed between the two blocks, as shown in Fig. 5. This construction is exactly like that of socket 2 and its associated elements. The ball-bearing 29 is formed upon the end of the steering-arm 30, Fig. 2, which is actuated by the steering-post (not shown) as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

By providing one end of the drag-link with the ball-bearing and seating such hearing in one end socket of the tie-rod, it will be seen that the thrust transmitted from the drag-link to the tie-rod is applied along the axis of said rod, which is the theoretically correct application of such thrust, since the tie-rod is, in consequence, not subjected to a bending moment, an obviously desirable condition.

Furthermore, my above described combination of tie-rod and drag-link involves the use of but three sockets and their associated parts, instead of four, the one socket differing only from the others in an ncreased length and the associated parts being augmented only by a single additional bearing block.

VVha't I claim is:

1. The combination of a tie-rod provided with an enlargement forming a hollow socket; a steering knuckle arm engaging said socket; and a drag-link having its end engaging said socket.

2. The combination of a tie-rod provided with a socket; a steering-knuckle arm having its end seated and longitudinally movable in said socket; and a drag-link having its end also seated and longitudinally movable in said socket.

3. The combination of a tie-rod provided with an end enlargement forming a hollow socket, a steering knuckle arm engaging said socket; and a drag-link having its end engaging said socket; said steering knuckle arm and drag-link end being yieldingly mounted in said socket so as to have longitudinal movement therein.

4. The combination of a tie-rod provided with a socket formed with a longitudinally elongated slot; at steering-knuckle arm extending through said slot and having its end seated in said socket; a drag-link extending through said slot and having its end seated in said socket; a plug closing the outer end of the latter; a bearing block interposed between said plug and arm end; a bearing block interposed between the laiter and said link end; a bearing block engaging the inner side of said link end; and a spring interposed between said lastnamed block and the inner end of the said socket.

Signed by me this 23rd day of December,

GLENN A. TOAZ. 

